The National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) abrogated its July decision by which the natural gas tariffs were increased by 15.4% and approved a new tariff that is by 5.6% lower than that approved in July. Thus, the tariff per thousand cubic meters of gas will be by 9.8% higher than the current one, IPN reports.
The new tariff is yet by 25% lower than that asked by the public utility “Moldovagaz”. The decision was adopted by the Agency’s administration Board by a unanimous vote.
In the meeting held to reassess the natural gas tariffs, expert Victor Parlicov, ex-director of the NAER, asked not to take a decision until the so-called Furdui amendment to the Law on Natural Gas is not repealed. According to him, due to this amendment, the money paid by the Russian company Gazprom for the transportation of gas via Moldovan reaches “Moldovagaz”, which uses it how it wants, but should be transferred to the state budget.
The Board members didn’t accept this request, saying that if Parliament annuls this amendment next week, a new meeting to reexamine the decision adopted on November 13 will be held.
If Parliament annuls this amendment, the tariffs should be decreased by about 5%, according to Parlicov.
The new average tariff is 6,222 lei per thousand cubic meters.
On November 9, the NAER approved higher electric power tariffs. Thus, the price of 1 kWh of power for end-users is 2.24 lei on average. The domestic consumers connected to the low voltage power lines operated by Gas Natural Fenosa pay 2.16 lei per kWh, those served by RED Nord – 2.23 lei per kWh, while those served by RED Nord - Vest” – 2.33 lei per kWh.
